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The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 1997-06-11

The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 1997-06-11

[New DARE officer on staff — Page 3 AHS plans for 25th anniversary — P
Amherst News-Time
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Wednesday, June 11, 1997
Amherst, Ohio
Low bid on crack
and seal project
means more cash
for Elyria repairs
by BILL ROSS
News-Times reporter
The 1997 crack and joint scaling
project has been awarded lo Cross-
Roads Asphalt Recycling Company,
Inc., who was the lowest bidder of
three companies vying for the
project.
Mayor John Higgins said Cross-
Road's bid of S49.939, which
amounts to 43 cents per linear foot,
is low compared to their bid last
year of 59 cents per linear fool —
and is 579,000 lower than what the
city engineer had estimated the project lo cost.
On the down side, Higgins said
recently discovered additional problems wilh Elyria Avenue will result
in another S80.O00 in concrete replacement COStS, which cancels out
the money saved by Cross-Roads'
low bid.
The problems with Elyria Avenue
recently came to light after core
tests and boring showed voids under
sections of concrete. Additionally,
icsis revealed that ihe subsurface is
in poor shape and fracturing is more
extensive than believed.
And although the mayor is disappointed wilh the new findings, he is
happy to be getting a bargain from
Cross-Roads.
"Not only have ihey (Cross-
Roads) lowered ihcir bid on a cosl
per fool amount, but they are doing
three limes the work this year over
last year," Higgins said.
During a finance committee
meeting last week to discuss the
bids, councilperson Diane Eswine
told the mayor she was concerned
because Cross-Road's estimate was
less than half the amount of the
highest bidder, which caused her to
question the reliability of the choice.
Eric Blacktop's bid was about
Sl 18,000 and Ohio Pavement's was
around S79,0(X), according lo the
CONTINUED on page 2
Jealous women
spray paint car,
home, school over
boyfriend troubles
by BILL ROSS
News-Times reporter
Spray-painting vandals that
targeted Marion L. Steele High
School, a vehicle, and houses in
Amhersl and Lorain are suspected
by police lo be jealous girlfriends.
Patrolman Les Carrcnder of the
Amherst Police Department said he
expects charges against two women
to be filed sometime this week, after
they have been interviewed by
dcieciives.
On May 30, jusi before 7 a.m., a
Steele High employee called police
and reported that obscenities and
vulgar pictures had been painted on
the field house and locker room
building.
In addition to the vulgarities,
which made references to school officials and the city of AmhcrsL there
was the statement "take a trip —
mushroom," written, in reference to
drug usage.
While Carrcnder was interviewing the employee at the scene, a female studenl approached him and
said that her home had also been
sprayed painted in a similar manner.
Carrcnder was also notified thai a
car on Cleveland Avenue had been
sprayed; the car is owned by another
Steele teen. He also found out from
ihc girl's father the names of any
persons wilh whom his daughter
CONTINUED on page 2
Imposter getting into
homes as city building
inspector so beware
A man posing as a city inspector
>r engineer has twice gained entry
■ > properties in the Amherst area.
City building inspector Ron Ko-
rtbwal said his office first received a
call on May 27 from a woman who
owns a home on Jackson Street.
Her tenant called her after a man
came to the house saying he was the
building inspector and had to measure the deck.
The man is described as white,
average in both height and weight,
laic 30s and dressed casually. "She
told me he was very ordinary looking," ihe homeowner explained.
"Bui he addressed her as 'Mrs. Jackson,' so he was probably a lillle
nervous and substituted the street
name for her name. He did know
my name, so he must have done
some research."
After measuring the deck, the
man lefl the property.
The second incident occurred last
Wednesday at a home on Deer Run
in Amhersl Township. This lime a
man showed up and told the homeowner he was a city engineer and
needed to inspect her sump pump.
The homeowner described the
man similarly, but added that he
could be in his 40s and has balding
light-colored hair. Additionally, he
was accompanied by an African-
American woman, late 20s, tall and
ihin with her hair tied back.
"I asked him who had complained
and he said he got a report from the
plumbing inspector," the homeowner said, adding that the couple had
no tools or papers with them.
She allowed them to enter her
basement unaccompanied and upon
leaving, they told tier she would be
receiving a written letter of changes
needed.
City engineer Mill Pommeranz.
said he did not visit the Deer Run
home and was unaware of the
incident.
Konowal said ihc city recently acquired a photo ID machine, of
which he plans to make quick use.
"I will have a photo ID made. I also
recommend that people make sure
they see proper identification before
Idling anyone into their homes."
Both incidents have been referred
to the detective bureau at the Amherst Police Department for further
investigation.
Sunday's graduation
ceremonies held at the
Palace Theater in Lorain went off without a
hitch. Marion L. Steele
High School seniors of
the Class of 1997 were
awarded diplomas by
members of the school
board. At top, board
~-oaember Ron Yacobozzi
■"""awards a diploma to a
grad as she walks
across the stage. At
right, an emotional moment is shared outside
the theater and at bottom, a young woman
relaxes after it was all
over. Celebrants spilled
into the street and
slowed traffic for a bit.
(Photos by Bill Ross)
Heather Skeeles
Ray Deidrick
Deidrick,
Skeeles
picked top
classmates
As th(S choices for valedictorian
and salutatorian for the Class of
1997 were announced last week, it
was obvious at Marion L. Steele
High School that brains and brawn
do not have to be mutually
exclusive.
Both valedictorian Heather
Skeeles* and salutatorian Raymond
Deidrick are outstanding athclctcs
as well as top scholars, and arc described by others as being "exceptionally nice people."
Skeeles, 18, knew that she was in
contention for valedictorian after
her guidance counselor, Robert
Games, told her if she got all A's on
her finally report card, the title
would be hers.
"I had track on Thursday afternoon, so I was still there when they
totalled up the grades," Skeeles said.
"When they told me, I was of course
pretty happy."
Skeeles' grade point average of
4.215 is indicative of the hard
academic work thai she has done
ihroughoul the years. Her family
moved to Amherst during her junior
year, after her father, James, was
transferred to Lorain County. He is
an extended professor employed by
Ohio Stale University,
Skeclc's mother, Marty, is a
trained dietician. She also has two
younger sisters, Angie, 16, and
Laura, II. "They both get straight
A's also," she proudly reports.
It is her parent's encouragement
that has helped to develop Skeeles
into a top student, but she has also
been influenced by (he fine staff at
Steele.
CONTINUED on page 12
,'

[New DARE officer on staff — Page 3 AHS plans for 25th anniversary — P
Amherst News-Time
M O o
O _ x x
~ 00 M M
— tn o o
c m m
r- (j)
3 H
3> O
vo
3> M
< O
m 3>
t/)
O
n
Wednesday, June 11, 1997
Amherst, Ohio
Low bid on crack
and seal project
means more cash
for Elyria repairs
by BILL ROSS
News-Times reporter
The 1997 crack and joint scaling
project has been awarded lo Cross-
Roads Asphalt Recycling Company,
Inc., who was the lowest bidder of
three companies vying for the
project.
Mayor John Higgins said Cross-
Road's bid of S49.939, which
amounts to 43 cents per linear foot,
is low compared to their bid last
year of 59 cents per linear fool —
and is 579,000 lower than what the
city engineer had estimated the project lo cost.
On the down side, Higgins said
recently discovered additional problems wilh Elyria Avenue will result
in another S80.O00 in concrete replacement COStS, which cancels out
the money saved by Cross-Roads'
low bid.
The problems with Elyria Avenue
recently came to light after core
tests and boring showed voids under
sections of concrete. Additionally,
icsis revealed that ihe subsurface is
in poor shape and fracturing is more
extensive than believed.
And although the mayor is disappointed wilh the new findings, he is
happy to be getting a bargain from
Cross-Roads.
"Not only have ihey (Cross-
Roads) lowered ihcir bid on a cosl
per fool amount, but they are doing
three limes the work this year over
last year," Higgins said.
During a finance committee
meeting last week to discuss the
bids, councilperson Diane Eswine
told the mayor she was concerned
because Cross-Road's estimate was
less than half the amount of the
highest bidder, which caused her to
question the reliability of the choice.
Eric Blacktop's bid was about
Sl 18,000 and Ohio Pavement's was
around S79,0(X), according lo the
CONTINUED on page 2
Jealous women
spray paint car,
home, school over
boyfriend troubles
by BILL ROSS
News-Times reporter
Spray-painting vandals that
targeted Marion L. Steele High
School, a vehicle, and houses in
Amhersl and Lorain are suspected
by police lo be jealous girlfriends.
Patrolman Les Carrcnder of the
Amherst Police Department said he
expects charges against two women
to be filed sometime this week, after
they have been interviewed by
dcieciives.
On May 30, jusi before 7 a.m., a
Steele High employee called police
and reported that obscenities and
vulgar pictures had been painted on
the field house and locker room
building.
In addition to the vulgarities,
which made references to school officials and the city of AmhcrsL there
was the statement "take a trip —
mushroom," written, in reference to
drug usage.
While Carrcnder was interviewing the employee at the scene, a female studenl approached him and
said that her home had also been
sprayed painted in a similar manner.
Carrcnder was also notified thai a
car on Cleveland Avenue had been
sprayed; the car is owned by another
Steele teen. He also found out from
ihc girl's father the names of any
persons wilh whom his daughter
CONTINUED on page 2
Imposter getting into
homes as city building
inspector so beware
A man posing as a city inspector
>r engineer has twice gained entry
■ > properties in the Amherst area.
City building inspector Ron Ko-
rtbwal said his office first received a
call on May 27 from a woman who
owns a home on Jackson Street.
Her tenant called her after a man
came to the house saying he was the
building inspector and had to measure the deck.
The man is described as white,
average in both height and weight,
laic 30s and dressed casually. "She
told me he was very ordinary looking," ihe homeowner explained.
"Bui he addressed her as 'Mrs. Jackson,' so he was probably a lillle
nervous and substituted the street
name for her name. He did know
my name, so he must have done
some research."
After measuring the deck, the
man lefl the property.
The second incident occurred last
Wednesday at a home on Deer Run
in Amhersl Township. This lime a
man showed up and told the homeowner he was a city engineer and
needed to inspect her sump pump.
The homeowner described the
man similarly, but added that he
could be in his 40s and has balding
light-colored hair. Additionally, he
was accompanied by an African-
American woman, late 20s, tall and
ihin with her hair tied back.
"I asked him who had complained
and he said he got a report from the
plumbing inspector," the homeowner said, adding that the couple had
no tools or papers with them.
She allowed them to enter her
basement unaccompanied and upon
leaving, they told tier she would be
receiving a written letter of changes
needed.
City engineer Mill Pommeranz.
said he did not visit the Deer Run
home and was unaware of the
incident.
Konowal said ihc city recently acquired a photo ID machine, of
which he plans to make quick use.
"I will have a photo ID made. I also
recommend that people make sure
they see proper identification before
Idling anyone into their homes."
Both incidents have been referred
to the detective bureau at the Amherst Police Department for further
investigation.
Sunday's graduation
ceremonies held at the
Palace Theater in Lorain went off without a
hitch. Marion L. Steele
High School seniors of
the Class of 1997 were
awarded diplomas by
members of the school
board. At top, board
~-oaember Ron Yacobozzi
■"""awards a diploma to a
grad as she walks
across the stage. At
right, an emotional moment is shared outside
the theater and at bottom, a young woman
relaxes after it was all
over. Celebrants spilled
into the street and
slowed traffic for a bit.
(Photos by Bill Ross)
Heather Skeeles
Ray Deidrick
Deidrick,
Skeeles
picked top
classmates
As th(S choices for valedictorian
and salutatorian for the Class of
1997 were announced last week, it
was obvious at Marion L. Steele
High School that brains and brawn
do not have to be mutually
exclusive.
Both valedictorian Heather
Skeeles* and salutatorian Raymond
Deidrick are outstanding athclctcs
as well as top scholars, and arc described by others as being "exceptionally nice people."
Skeeles, 18, knew that she was in
contention for valedictorian after
her guidance counselor, Robert
Games, told her if she got all A's on
her finally report card, the title
would be hers.
"I had track on Thursday afternoon, so I was still there when they
totalled up the grades," Skeeles said.
"When they told me, I was of course
pretty happy."
Skeeles' grade point average of
4.215 is indicative of the hard
academic work thai she has done
ihroughoul the years. Her family
moved to Amherst during her junior
year, after her father, James, was
transferred to Lorain County. He is
an extended professor employed by
Ohio Stale University,
Skeclc's mother, Marty, is a
trained dietician. She also has two
younger sisters, Angie, 16, and
Laura, II. "They both get straight
A's also," she proudly reports.
It is her parent's encouragement
that has helped to develop Skeeles
into a top student, but she has also
been influenced by (he fine staff at
Steele.
CONTINUED on page 12
,'